¥900,000 (Direct Cost : ¥900,000)

American current of Thought / the American Renaissance / Astronomy / View of Cosmic Universe / Henry Thoreau

Research Abstract

I investigated the main discoveries and results of astronomy in the American Renaissance period (the early part of the 19^<th> century) and inquired into the various effects and influences of these astronomical achievements on the American culture and literary currents in that age. I consulted the works and biographies of main American men of letters at that time such as Emerson, Poe and Whitman, and extracted their descriptions and comments of astronomical phenomena and astronomy. By examining those data, I made a survey of their consciousness and views of the cosmic space and universe, and summarized the results into an article.Then I especially chose Henry David Thoreau and his main work Walden, and from there I extracted his various expressions of the cosmic space and astronomy, and investigated his consciousness of the cosmic and astronomic universe. The result shows that those cosmic expressions are used by Thoreau for the purpose of illustrating his view of life and his idea of how to live. I also translated Thoreau's essay "The Moon" into Japanese, which are closely related to my theme.